Condenser



(No Model.)

L. J. KNOWLES.

CONDENSER. v No. 247,501. Patented Sept. 27,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT Price.

LUOIUS L b KNOWLES, OF WORCESTER, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE F. BLAKEMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONDENSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,501, datedSeptember 2'7, 1881.

Application filed July 5, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Looms J. KNOWLES, of Worcester, county of Worcester,State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Air-Pump andCondenser, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawing, is a specification.

My invention relates to the condenser of a condensing steam-engine, theobject being to prevent the inj ection-water from filling the condenserand overflowing into the engine-cylinder. The cold injection-water isdrawn into the condenser through a pipe leading to a suitable reservoiror vessel containing the said water, and preferably on a somewhat lowerlevel than the'said condenser, the water being paused to enter byatmospheric pressure. It the engine be stopped the air-pump ceases towork, and as there will be a more or less nearly perfect vacuum in thecondenser the water will continue to flow in, and with condensers of theusual construction will sometimes over flow the condenser, fill theexhaust-pipe, and pass into the engine-cylinder. In order to preventthis I provide the condenser with a valve controlling a passage to theexternal atmosphere and automatically opened, as by a float,when thewater rises to a certain height in the condenser, thus allowing air toenter the condenser, destroy the vacuum therein, and prevent the furtherrise of the water.

The drawing illustrates in vertical longitudinal section a condenserembodying my invention.

The condenser a, ofany suitable or usual construction', is provided atits top with the injeetion-water passage 12, connected with a suitablereservoir or source of cold water, which, enterin gthecondenser, fallsupon the perforated spray-plate d, and is converted thereby into spraythat mingles with the steam entering from the exhaust-steam pipe 0,partially condensing the said steam, and, passing therewith through thesecond spray-plate f, further condenses it and falls therewith into thesuction'passage 9, leading to the usual air-pump, by which the saidmaterial is removed from the condenser and avacuum produced therein. Thecontents of the condenser are thus continuouslypumped out, fresh waterbeing forced by atmospheric pressure into the said condenser through thepassage 12, to cool and con= dense the steam entering through the pipe6.

If the engine by which the air-pump is operated should stop, the waterwould continue to enter through the passage 1), owing to the vacuum orlow pressure in the condenser, and might overflow the said condenser andfill the steam-pipe e and engine-cylinder, unless steps were taken toprevent it. This is automatically accomplished by providing thecondenser with a passage, 'lll, leading to the external atmosphere, andcontrolled by a valve, 02, connected by a rod, '2", with a float, s, ofsufficient buoyancy to overcome the pressure of the atmosphere on thevalve or, the said float being placed at a point above which it isdesired that the water should not rise. When the water in rising reachesthe float it raises it and the connected valve n, as shown in dottedlines, opening the passage on and allowing the air to enter, destroy thevacuum, and prevent more water from entering the condenser. When theair-pump is again started it pumps out the water, and at the firststroke lowers the float s enough to cause the valve 92 to close, afterwhich the condenser operates as usual.

I claim- 1. The condenser and passage connecting its interior with theexternal atmosphere, combined with the valve controlling the saidpassage, and means to automatically operateit by the rising of theliquid in the eondenser,whereby the said valve is opened and the vacuumin the condenser destroyed when the liquid rises to a certain leveltherein, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The condenser, and injection-water and exhaust-steam inletsthereto,combined with a passage connecting the interior of the saidcondenser with the external atmosphere, a valve to control the saidpassage, and a float to operate the said valve,whereby air is admittedto the said condenser as soon as the water therein reaches apredetermined level, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereofl have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUGIUS J. KNOWLES.

Witnesses E.G. TURNER,

GEO. F. BLAKE.

